Occipital Headache in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different occipital headache patterns according to TCM theory
Educational content • Consult qualified practitioners for medical advice
An occipital headache is characterized by persistent pain at the base of the skull that sometimes radiates toward the neck. This type of headache is recognized by TCM as a distinct pattern within the broader category of headaches, known for its location and unique attributes which can significantly impact an individual's quality of life.
In TCM, occipital headaches are not seen as isolated symptoms but as signals of an underlying imbalance. The holistic approach of TCM aims to identify the root cause or 'pattern' of disharmony causing the headache. Recognizing the correct pattern is vital, as it guides the personalized treatment plan, focusing on restoring harmony and balance within the body.
TCM Patterns for Occipital Headache
Wind
Causes: Occipital headaches
Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Occipital headaches
Along with: Slight aversion to cold, Wind phobia, Low grade fever, Mild sweating, Stiff neck, Sneezing, Occipital headache
Wind-Cold
Occipital headaches
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Occipital stiffness, Congested nose, White and watery sputum
Wind-Heat
Occipital headaches
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness, Occipital headache, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Yellowish phlegm
Cold
Causes: Occipital headaches
Greater Yang Attack of Cold
Occipital headaches
Along with: Occipital headache, Aversion to cold, Low grade fever, Lack of sweating, Stiff neck, Sneezing, Nasal discharge, Shortness of breath
Wind-Cold
Occipital headaches
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache, Occipital stiffness, Congested nose, White and watery sputum
Yin Deficiency
Causes: Occipital headaches
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
Occipital headaches
Along with: Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache, Insomnia, Limb numbness, Tingling of limbs, Dry eyes, Blurry vision, Dry throat, Dry hair, Skin dryness, Withered and brittle nails, Vaginal dryness, Night sweats, Dry stools, Nocturnal emission, Scanty menstruation, Amenorrhea, Late menstruation, Infertility, Melasma
Heat
Causes: Occipital headaches
Wind-Heat
Occipital headaches
Along with: Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness, Occipital headache, Excessive sweating, Sore throat, Yellowish phlegm
Herbal Formulas for Occipital Headache
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address occipital headache
Cong Chi Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior
- Induces sweating
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior
- Induces sweating
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Ma Huang Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases exterior cold
- Treats wheezing
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Greater Yang Attack of Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Occipital headache, Aversion to cold, Low grade fever, Lack of sweating, Stiff neck, Sneezing...
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jing Fang Bai Du San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior by sweating
- Dispels Wind and Dampness
- Augments Qi
- Reduces pain
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Induces sweating
- Dispels Dampness
- Expels Wind-Cold
- Clears Interior Heat
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jia Wei Xiang Su San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Promote sweating
- Releases the Exterior
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Shi Shen Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases pathogens from the Exterior
- Regulates Qi
- Descends the Lung Qi
- Relieves coughing
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Jin Fei Cao San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind-Cold
- Descends Lung Qi
- Transform Phlegm
- Stop cough and calms wheezing
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Wu Ji San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Warms the Interior
- Smoothes the flow of Qi
- Transforms Phlegm
- Invigorates the Blood
- Reduces Stagnation
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Cold
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital headache...
Yin Qiao San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind Heat
- Clears Heat
- Resolves Toxicity
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Sang Ju Yin
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi
- Clears Heat
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Dispels Wind
- Clears toxic-Heat
- Disperses Stagnation
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Vents rashes
- Clears
- Generates Body Fluids
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Xiao Feng San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Eliminates Dampness
- Clears Heat
- Cools the Blood
- Nourishes the Blood
- Relieves skin itchness
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind
- Releases the Exterior
- Drains Heat
- Unblocks the bowels
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Bing Peng San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Dispels putrescence
- Reduces swellings and relieves pain
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Clears Wind-Heat
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Clear Heat by releasing the Exterior
- Clears the Toxic-Heat
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Wind-Heat
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Aversion to cold, Fever, Sneezing, Coughing, Nasal discharge, Occipital stiffness...
Gui Zhi Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases pathogens from the muscle layer
- Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Greater Yang Attack of Wind
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Slight aversion to cold, Wind phobia, Low grade fever, Mild sweating, Stiff neck, Sneezing...
Zuo Gui Wan
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Yin
- Strengthens the Kidneys
- Fills the Essence
- Augments the marrow
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Kidney and Liver Yin
- Improves vision
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the yin and nourishes the Kidneys
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Qing Gu San
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat from Deficiency
- Alleviates steaming bone disorder
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Yi Guan Jian
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Spreads the Liver Qi
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...
Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang
Addresses these occipital headache patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Extinguishes Wind
- Nourishes the Yin
- Anchors the Yang
Addresses These Occipital Headache Pattern Variations
Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Occipital headaches
Accompanying symptoms:
Dizziness, Tinnitus, Hearing loss, Lower back pain, Vertical headaches, Occipital headache...